The Explosive Power of Blanks at 82,000FPS - The Slow Mo Guys

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  • čas přidán 15. 05. 2023
  • Gav and Dan whip out the fast camera to show you exactly what comes out of the barrel of a gun when a blank is fired. Is it gas? Is it flame? Is it a bunch of powdery schmutz that can carve holes through lunch meat? Yes.
    Instagram - / theslowmoguys
    Filmed at 82,000FPS with the Phantom TMX 7510
    The Explosive Power of Blanks at 82,000FPS - The Slow Mo Guys
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Komentáře • 2,5K

  • @theslowmoguys
    @theslowmoguys  Před rokem +2933

    A trypophobia nightmare

  • @CthuluSpecialK
    @CthuluSpecialK Před rokem +5376

    You know what video you guys should do? It may be expensive, but Adam Savage formerly from Myth Busters has told the story a few times about how the shot he regrets missing the most of his career, was the episode where they put TNT in a cement mixer truck.
    There was an issue with their slow-motion camera and they never got the shot of the truck exploding.
    If you got in touch with Adam Savage, and got sponsors and a safety team and stuff, it would be AMAZING if you could give him the gift of recreating that explosion so he could see the shot in slow-motion.
    I know you guys mentioned being inspired by Myth Busters when younger, it seems like the perfect excuse to have an amazing collab. Anyway, love you guys, always great content.

    • @harrymalm
      @harrymalm Před rokem +185

      This is such a good idea

    • @paulessdot2
      @paulessdot2 Před rokem +77

      Yea i would like to see this as well

    • @EcoCurious
      @EcoCurious Před rokem +67

      YES THIS.

    • @SUPRAMIKE18
      @SUPRAMIKE18 Před rokem +46

      THIS!

    • @PiotrBarcz
      @PiotrBarcz Před rokem +97

      They did get a slow motion shot of it later on, but only at 1000 fps, peanuts compared to the 28 thousand used on average for this channel's videos

  • @ElectroBOOM
    @ElectroBOOM Před rokem +3819

    I was thinking maybe I can hold my hand in front of it with no damage, but after seeing the ham... NO!

    • @JadoShiRS
      @JadoShiRS Před rokem +200

      Yeah, I've always wondered that, it just shows that things that look harmless most certainly can harm. I guess I don't have to tell you that though lol

    • @timslack7568
      @timslack7568 Před rokem +155

      look up Jon-Erik Hexum, he thought the same as you, now nobody remembers anything about him but his final mistaken thought

    • @brachypelmasmith
      @brachypelmasmith Před rokem +92

      i wished they placed a slab of bacon or a drumstick to see the effect on something more fleshy

    • @DragoonZell
      @DragoonZell Před rokem +26

      Ive known for awhile that you *never* should fire a blank point blank because it still could do some serious damage.

    • @theslowmoguys
      @theslowmoguys  Před rokem +1072

      No one wants ham hand.

  • @TerribleResults
    @TerribleResults Před rokem +829

    I appreciate that Dan still does the "Made ready" safety stuff even when there's a blank. A real professional.

    • @puppergump4117
      @puppergump4117 Před rokem +93

      Whether or not that's a blank, it's still a real gun.

    • @Dr.Spatula
      @Dr.Spatula Před rokem +24

      Weird thing to appreciate. Why wouldn't he be safe with a firearm that is firing?

    • @kederaji
      @kederaji Před rokem +72

      @@Dr.Spatula because some people get flippant about blanks because there's no bullet.

    • @puppergump4117
      @puppergump4117 Před rokem +3

      @@kederaji REAL BULLETS

    • @Dr.Spatula
      @Dr.Spatula Před rokem +3

      @@kederaji pretty sure the only people doing that are ones that do the same with slugs

  • @apjtv2540
    @apjtv2540 Před rokem +83

    I wonder if Dan ever wonders "How did I end up in a quarry, shooting blanks at a slice of ham while my mate films it?"

    • @morphingninja
      @morphingninja Před 11 měsíci +9

      living the dream, doing whatever you feel like and getting paid for it.

    • @andrewdescant
      @andrewdescant Před 11 měsíci +4

      Gav likes to ask him that waiting for giant balloons to pop

    • @billant2
      @billant2 Před 5 měsíci

      They are beating their meat for sure. lol

  • @harriel001
    @harriel001 Před rokem +1341

    I used to work as a gunsmith in the entertainment industry and we used to have to demo the dangers of blanks for people before they were allowed to rent them. We'd use styrofoam and thin particle board for the demonstrations and it was always kinda wild seeing how much damage the blanks can actually do. We always made a point of informing them of at least a few of the 'on set' accidents that have happened with blanks as well.
    One thing I'd like to point out is that all the unspent powder you're seeing in the clips here is only there because there's nothing slowing down the exhaust of the gases so it doesn't have the time to burn. When using a weapon converted for blank firing, or using one of those blank firing devices, the gases are more contained and you get more complete combustion of the powder so there's less particulate matter, but more gas coming out the barrel so there's more muzzle flash. I'd personally be really interested to see slow mo of a converted blank firing weapon being discharged to see how much less powder is ejected. :)

    • @archerelms
      @archerelms Před rokem +38

      I'd also like to see the converted weapon, not just to see the difference in unspent powder and muzzle flash but also to see if there's a different level of damage. At the very least, I bet the damage as it's happening would look different even if the result is practically the same

    • @Potatinized
      @Potatinized Před rokem +9

      How far should the actor stay apart from the shooter if there's a shot that requires both to be on the same shot using the converted guns? Not that I want to do that at all, just curious.

    • @BCM1959
      @BCM1959 Před rokem +4

      Off topic...
      What's your take on Baldwin? Was it his fault or should someone else take the blame?

    • @yc3zy
      @yc3zy Před rokem +26

      @@BCM1959 As an actor, Baldwin is not responsible for firing a gun he thought was safe, but in his role as producer, Baldwin is ultimately responsible for any reasonably foreseeable and preventable injury on set and definitely shares blame for the specific issue of lax gun safety protocols (and for this reason, the production company was fined $100,000 by the New Mexico OSHB).

    • @evolicious
      @evolicious Před rokem +7

      @@Potatinized They should never be down-range, period.

  • @colequarles914
    @colequarles914 Před rokem +426

    When I was in Army BCT, we were doing trigger pull exercises by balancing a coin on the end of a cleaning rod and one genius private decided to use a magazine full of blanks (obviously, the rifle is supposed to be clear for this particular exercise)...the first trigger pull blasted the cleaning rod out of the barrel and all the way through his buddy's upper thigh nearly missing his eggs and meat. The drill SGTs heard the blank go off and ordered everyone into formation. This guy pulled the cleaning rod out of his leg and proceeded to try and stand in formation like nothing happened...while a puddle of blood formed around his boots. Needless to say, it didn't take long for the cadre to figure out what happened.

    • @nipstyler
      @nipstyler Před rokem +89

      Jesus respect to that guy who tried to just get on with it.

    • @darkwinter6028
      @darkwinter6028 Před rokem +57

      “It’s just a flesh wound!” 😳😬

    • @TheNinthGenerarion
      @TheNinthGenerarion Před rokem +62

      @@nipstyler it’s possible he was simply in shock, he did just get shot with a broom.

    • @jhorn64
      @jhorn64 Před rokem +56

      in that location he is lucky it didn't hit the femoral artery

    • @L5GUK
      @L5GUK Před rokem +3

      This is peak British squaddie. In fact, it's probably just peak squaddie. For both of them

  • @ambiention
    @ambiention Před rokem +82

    As cool as the footage always is, the best part of these videos is that it’s Gav and Dan. Together.

  • @ericfrancis7816
    @ericfrancis7816 Před rokem +245

    Gentlemen, thank you. My later father was a US Army veteran of WWII, and he impressed upon myself and my brother that blanks are not always harmless by telling us this story: During training they had a simulated-fire war games exercise where everyone had blanks in their guns. The side my father was on captured one of the soldiers who was spying from he other side and interrogated him. During the interrogation, someone decided to intimidate the "prisoner" by putting their blank-loaded rifle up to his chest and pulling the trigger. The discharging gasses punched a hole in his heart and killed him.
    Your videos are always fun and informative, but this one is also a public service. Well done.

    • @petezah2686
      @petezah2686 Před rokem +3

      That's funny

    • @12th.jahlil
      @12th.jahlil Před rokem +40

      far from funny ​@@petezah2686

    • @alangordon3283
      @alangordon3283 Před rokem +13

      @@petezah2686feeble minded aren’t you.

    • @petezah2686
      @petezah2686 Před rokem +14

      @@12th.jahlil in a tragic sort of way, it is funny. I mean think of his reasoning. "Oh, I'm gonna intimidate this captive by shooting him in the chest, then he'll talk" doesn't make sense, whether it's a simulation or real.

    • @pewtube
      @pewtube Před rokem +15

      Eric, as someone who teaches gun safety for actors, anecdotes like that can be helpful... do you know of any documentation or reference other than you late father's story?

  • @NathanBarrow
    @NathanBarrow Před rokem +970

    Never thought I'd see Gav and Dan shooting blanks on CZcams.

  • @Welshwarrior85
    @Welshwarrior85 Před rokem +593

    What i like about these guys videos is that they don't waste our time.
    They're straight into the content, no pointless filler.

    • @iammashdots
      @iammashdots Před rokem +13

      they really don't faff about, yeah?

    • @Welshwarrior85
      @Welshwarrior85 Před rokem +6

      @@DontReadMyProfilePicture.18 I won't pal, don't worry

    • @needude7218
      @needude7218 Před rokem +5

      ​@@DontReadMyProfilePicture.18 sort your life out, mate

    • @NeatNit
      @NeatNit Před rokem +14

      There is some filler but it's actually the right amount and justified, not endless and boring and useless. Some filler is necessary IMO as I wouldn't really know what to make of slow-mo after slow-mo without unwinding in between.

    • @pat2rome
      @pat2rome Před rokem +12

      @@NeatNit yeah, it's just enough banter to give the "two guys messing around in the yard" vibe we all love.

  • @nicholsliwilson
    @nicholsliwilson Před rokem +74

    You did not misuse the term “point blank range.” I’m impressed.

  • @arcyllisanaspergersgamer2367

    4:19 the two dialogue about whether or not this scene is appropriate to show
    Gavin then proceeds to make it the thumbnail of the video XD

  • @greenmind3488
    @greenmind3488 Před rokem +192

    A classmate of mine was hit in the leg by a blank from a starter pistol at a track meet. I believe it was a mix of the unburned powered and some of the dirt off the ground getting blasted by the gas that hit her. The guy who shot the starting pistol was insistent that "it was a blank, so it couldn't have done anything". Her leg was peppered and was lightly bleeding from a wide area on her calf.
    Blanks still have their dangers, so I'm glad to see this kind of video out there to teach people whats what.

    • @sithyarael6807
      @sithyarael6807 Před rokem +6

      Oh blanks still have that pressure wave. If close to them then it not good.

    • @RaXXha
      @RaXXha Před rokem +22

      What was his explanation then? That she just started to spontaneusly bleed from her leg? 😂

    • @RamonInNZ
      @RamonInNZ Před rokem +16

      Why was he aiming at the beeping grpound with a weapon!

    • @sithyarael6807
      @sithyarael6807 Před rokem +1

      @@RamonInNZ what is a grpound?

    • @alexsis1778
      @alexsis1778 Před rokem +5

      Poorly made or reused brass cartridges also have a chance for the metal in the crimp itself to break off giving not just powder as shrapnel but actual flecks of metal as well.

  • @xam113w
    @xam113w Před rokem +268

    Dan just patiently holding the ham to keep it from flapping, then blowing it away, while Gav runs for the camera, easily one of the best sequence of events.

    • @JerGol
      @JerGol Před rokem +11

      I love Dan's new job title of ham wrangler. 😂

    • @ComicusFreemanius
      @ComicusFreemanius Před rokem

      They decide when ham can flap

  • @bunglecryptid
    @bunglecryptid Před rokem +67

    I appreciate the fact that after every single shot, you make sure the gun is safe and disarmed before checking the footage! Also the ham puns 😂

    • @evolicious
      @evolicious Před rokem +7

      Did a better job than an armorer being paid 100k a year to handle blank firearm movie props, and a director with no regard to their own safety........................

    • @bunglecryptid
      @bunglecryptid Před rokem +1

      @@evolicious my thoughts EXACTLY

  • @Macgruber161
    @Macgruber161 Před rokem +15

    Every time they showcase the highspeed footage, I will find myself just skipping back a few times to watch it over and over and over. This time (2:38) I was cracking up hearing Gavin say "It was absolutely pebble dashed" over and over and over again! XD

  • @Xeonerable
    @Xeonerable Před rokem +111

    Gav covering his mega-expensive super-duper-slow-mo camera in a TARGET bag of all things.

    • @5peciesunkn0wn
      @5peciesunkn0wn Před rokem +3

      Gotta save money elsewhere. ;)

    • @anonymousperson2886
      @anonymousperson2886 Před rokem +4

      This is the magic of the slow mo guys

    • @Spiker985Studios
      @Spiker985Studios Před rokem +3

      He was trying to reverse-psychology, Dan

    • @coreytaggart128
      @coreytaggart128 Před rokem

      see that would be a good way to do product placement nothing said and you still got the business name out there and it doesn't look tacky.

    • @mwater_moon2865
      @mwater_moon2865 Před rokem

      hey, walmart bags have gotten so thin they probably couldn't stop a piece of egg shell

  • @nielsdegroot9138
    @nielsdegroot9138 Před rokem +5

    That 'hambulance' joke @5:00... 🤣🤣

  • @SirDilbere
    @SirDilbere Před rokem +11

    I have been watching your videos for several years, and this one is, in my own honest opinion, the most awesome and amazing one I've seen. Not only did I not know what a blank is, what it's made of, how it works, etc. But also to see in slow motion what it can do at close range. I was astounded to see the flame surround the objects when I could see nothing from a distance. I have learned something I did not know a short time ago. Thank you for this wonderful demonstration. Truly thrilled. Cheers

  • @moos5221
    @moos5221 Před rokem +124

    "I'm almost as blown away as the ham was" You guys often bring a smile to my face, but this one really cracked me up! I love the footage and the humor!

    • @soundped
      @soundped Před rokem +2

      Call the Hambulance!

  • @docdragoon8095
    @docdragoon8095 Před rokem +305

    Can we take a second to appreciate Dan's gun safety? Good work

    • @victoriaeads6126
      @victoriaeads6126 Před rokem +31

      It's that UK military training in play. That's why Dan is always the one to handle the firearms.

    • @evolicious
      @evolicious Před rokem +29

      One more reason as to why only professionally trained people should ever handle firearms.

    • @Dr.Spatula
      @Dr.Spatula Před rokem +4

      Why are people talking about appreciating Dan for doing his job and handling a firearm like literally anyone that knows how to handle a firearm would?

    • @victoriaeads6126
      @victoriaeads6126 Před rokem +23

      @@Dr.Spatula There is far too little said about responsible firearm safety.

    • @Dr.Spatula
      @Dr.Spatula Před rokem +1

      @@victoriaeads6126 in mainstream media, yes. Everywhere else, not so much

  • @kayarashkarami1784
    @kayarashkarami1784 Před 10 měsíci +4

    Can we take a moment an appreciate the extremely proper and safe handling of that fire arm? Thank you for the great content!

  • @JamesTM
    @JamesTM Před rokem +32

    My experience with blanks in the army was that they were extremely inconsistent. Some wouldn't even cycle with a BFA, others would surprise you with a decent kick.

    • @lieutenantdan8541
      @lieutenantdan8541 Před rokem +8

      "Military grade"

    • @reliantncc1864
      @reliantncc1864 Před rokem

      I only got one day of shooting blanks from an M-16, but I never got one to cycle it. All manual operation for me. Some of the others I was with fared better.

    • @jonbutcher9805
      @jonbutcher9805 Před 6 měsíci

      With my recollections, spotty as they are. However, when I was in basic training way back yonder, I seem to recall the blank cartridges we used as having wadding inside them, I believe with the intention of creating sufficient pressure's for bolt cycling and with the instructors giving us various displays of their lethality should one be foolish enough to think of them as being harmless because of the name designation.
      My memory, being as spotty as it is may well be playing tricks on me. Perhaps there is someone who can clarify my claim.
      I should add some context. HRH Armed Forces R.E.M.E, 1970s, 7-62 (308) FN SLR Full, Semi auto and single shot rifle using Yellow Tip full powder charge cartridges with full bolt cycling from a 20 round magazine with manual loading.
      RIP Queen Elizabeth ll.

    • @spike3082
      @spike3082 Před 4 měsíci

      I never had a problem with cycling using blanks in an M4 carbine or M249 with the belt just when using the M249 with a standard magazine was when it wouldn't cycle properly

    • @IstasPumaNevada
      @IstasPumaNevada Před 4 měsíci

      To me it makes sense, given the way it looks like there's a little open end where the crimping is. Any small inconsistencies in crimping would lead to notable differences in how easily the exhaust flowed out of/pushed them apart, and small changes in that could lead to large changes in the pressure, which would change how fast/completely the propellent burned.. I doubt it's even a manufacturing defect, just the way things are.

  • @DandDClark
    @DandDClark Před rokem +36

    I had a family friend who lost his life because he didn't understand the danger of the exploding gases and gun powder. RIP. Thank you Slow Mo Guys for showing the danger and hopefully someone else won't have to go what my friends family has had to go through. All guns should be treated as if they are loaded, and this is a great example of why, even with blanks!

    • @Imaproshaman7
      @Imaproshaman7 Před rokem

      I'm sorry you had to go through that. :( I hope you're all doing okay.

  • @PierceArner
    @PierceArner Před rokem +29

    _"I'm... almost as blown away as that ham was!"_
    - Ham-Wrangler Dan.

  • @programagor
    @programagor Před rokem +8

    6:10 I love how the ripples are spreading, but then get frozen once the balloon rips.

  • @hunterbohman7555
    @hunterbohman7555 Před 7 měsíci +1

    My favorite line from this video..." It was absolutely pebble dashed!" I love you guys lol

  • @thebusstop
    @thebusstop Před rokem +341

    Blanks are no joke, but I would have been more interested to see what it did to a much thicker piece of meat.

    • @KonradTheWizzard
      @KonradTheWizzard Před rokem +19

      I was hoping for a piece of scrap leather - apparently that's a pretty good substitute for skin (HPC used that recently to show injection injuries).

    • @joedanger88
      @joedanger88 Před rokem +47

      There was an actor in the 80's, Jon-Erik Hexum, that killed himself (unintentionally) with a blank. He was joking around on set and put the prop gun to his head. The pressure from the gasses pushed a chunk of his skull into is brain

    • @MrWarbadger
      @MrWarbadger Před rokem +6

      One of those balistic gel hands would've been cool.

    • @Puffleman24
      @Puffleman24 Před rokem +11

      Excuse me, his name is Dan

    • @akyhne
      @akyhne Před rokem +7

      Mythbusters already tested this, with meat, trying to debunk the story.
      Turns out the story was true, a guy got his finger almost cut off by the flames of his revolver. The same happened in the Mythbusters test. Brutal!
      Although that was with s live round, they contain around the same amount of gun powder, as in a blank.

  • @HaakonDueland
    @HaakonDueland Před rokem +147

    When I was in the army, we used BFA’s (or recoil enhancers, as we called them) when using blanks.
    At the time we had a 5 meter safety distance for shooting blanks towards eachother with the BFA, and 15 meters without one using 5,56. This shows why.

    • @mikeharman4257
      @mikeharman4257 Před rokem +22

      We used to have to do a safety demo, by firing a blank into a plastic bag filled with water to show what would happen if you shot someone from the same distance.

    • @sharg0
      @sharg0 Před rokem +6

      Don't remember the safety distance for the Swedish 9 mm SMG but dedicated barrel with cap was a must since those rounds had a ceramic plug instead of bullet. (With the added note that those ceramic plugs were blood coloured and invisible to X-ray.)

    • @mattfleming86
      @mattfleming86 Před rokem +12

      Another advantage of many BFAs is that in the event of a live round being fed into the gun, the BFA will act as a sacrificial bit to absorb the energy from the projectile and reduce the likelihood of downrange people being injured.

    • @nipstyler
      @nipstyler Před rokem +3

      We were also told the safety distance was also do do with how far a BFA can be ejected from the barrel if not screwed on properly or it fails.
      One lad had an ND with his rifle in his sleeping system thankfully it just damaged his bag....

    • @manicdan481
      @manicdan481 Před rokem

      @@nipstyler Sounds like the BFA needed a secondary tether (no clue how possible that is since I know nothing about therm)

  • @Meeckle
    @Meeckle Před 11 měsíci +2

    The back shot of the ham is genuinely one of the coolest shots I've seen!

  • @ThriftyToolShed
    @ThriftyToolShed Před rokem +14

    Wow! That was incredible. The blanks are not to be taken lightly. Even .22 caliber blanks can drive anchors in concrete and steel with the Hilti powder actuated tools used in construction. I never would have guessed that was a piece of ham on the video thumbnail btw!

    • @CdEmm50
      @CdEmm50 Před rokem +2

      Yes, they are actually more powerful than regular. 22, they are colour coded here 👍🇬🇧

  • @bmitch3020
    @bmitch3020 Před rokem +117

    I'd like to take a moment to appreciate how on target that bag protecting the camera was.

  • @OfentseMwaseFilms
    @OfentseMwaseFilms Před rokem +295

    That was brutal on the meat. Demonetized

    • @dmg4415
      @dmg4415 Před rokem +18

      You mean demeatized? 😊

    • @marcel_max
      @marcel_max Před rokem +2

      @@dmg4415 It did not even have the time to cook, even a little bit.

  • @macronencer
    @macronencer Před rokem +2

    4:49 I would love to see "Ham Wrangler" appear in the credits of a movie.

  • @brettlong8041
    @brettlong8041 Před rokem +3

    This is one of the best y'all have done in a while

  • @ronaldwood6040
    @ronaldwood6040 Před rokem +46

    It kinda reminds me of a special type of 12 gauge shotgun shell. A "Dust" or "Powder" round. Instead of BBs it's basically iron filings or steel dust. Typically used for breaching doors. You guys should check those out!

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear Před 6 měsíci

      The military application of this in a missile or bomb warhead is known as Dense Inert Metal Explosive, or DIME. The intent is to create bomb that is absolutely lethal within a smaller blast radius, but cannot carry that energy beyond the walls of a building-- a surgical strike that can take out a large room or a building without killing bystanders in adjacent buildings.
      There is contention in its use, though, because one can imagine the horrendous injuries inflicted by metal dust being used as a blast projectile against actual humans rather than doors or walls.

  • @andrewmetasov
    @andrewmetasov Před rokem +198

    Wow, it would be interesting to find their "range of injury" or something like that by using ballistic gel or just paper on different distances

    • @qbertgaming
      @qbertgaming Před rokem +35

      sometimes the brass crimp breaks and comes out like a bullet... has killed many a people

    • @mrpurple2306
      @mrpurple2306 Před rokem +6

      I can see Kentucky Ballistics do a video about that!

    • @freedomofspeech2867
      @freedomofspeech2867 Před rokem

      Pork ribs.

    • @BenLA5
      @BenLA5 Před rokem +1

      ​@@qbertgaming Alec Baldwin be like: lets point the gun directly at someone anyway, knowing that any gun with any bullet should never be pointed at someone

    • @thescruffinator8830
      @thescruffinator8830 Před rokem +7

      @@BenLA5 He's an actor, his job is to fire the gun, he was told it had a blank round in it and the armorer responsible was a 23 year old girl who had no qualifications to handle firearms. She had never even done it before. She was literally only hired because her father is a film armorer. Baldwins job is just "Grab the gun, say your lines, and then pull the trigger". It's not his fault she loaded it with real ammunition.

  • @Rigel_Chiokis
    @Rigel_Chiokis Před rokem +4

    When I was in the Canadian Armed Forces, on one training exercise a sargeant accidentally discharged his 9mm pistol into his left hand. The barrel was just above the heel of his hand. The blank lifted all of the skin off of his palm and flopped it over his fingers. It was a very graphic lesson to us trainees to be careful with our toys.

  • @atroxic128
    @atroxic128 Před rokem +2

    The explanation of how a blank works was so perfectly delivered

  • @Samus11111
    @Samus11111 Před rokem +55

    Another cool idea would be slow-mo of blowing glass. There are a number of processes in glassblowing that I think could be really cool when seen in slo-mo.

  • @esvcasm
    @esvcasm Před rokem +40

    Actor Jon Erik Hexum (1980s) died of an accidental self inflicted wound with a gun that was actually loaded with blanks... So yes. They are still very dangerous.

    • @Yora21
      @Yora21 Před rokem +9

      Several actors were killed by blanks.

    • @stormgeist1766
      @stormgeist1766 Před rokem +6

      Hexum was goofing around with the crew while filming an episode of his TV show, and put the blank-loaded gun right on his temple, thinking it would do no damage

    • @johnofthenorth6653
      @johnofthenorth6653 Před rokem +7

      Brandon Lee is another quite famous one but he was killed by a squib fire that was forced out by the blank.

    • @SuperVstech
      @SuperVstech Před rokem +2

      @@stormgeist1766 I MISS that show, to this day…

    • @eroraf8637
      @eroraf8637 Před rokem +5

      ​@@stormgeist1766 And this is why the first rule of gun safety is to always treat every gun as if it is loaded.

  • @Lemurion287
    @Lemurion287 Před 6 měsíci

    Glad you guys are pointing out the danger. I'm old enough to remember the show "Cover Up" from the 80's and how Jon Erik Hexum died. He was bored on set so he put a blank in a revolver and put it to his temple pretending to play Russian Roulette. The hammer landed on the blank and it killed him. That was in 1984 and I still remember it every time someone talks about blanks.

  • @ArtianSetS
    @ArtianSetS Před rokem +1

    When I was in Cub Scouts, one night during a meeting/event, one of the guest instructors (or possibly a Scout Master, can't remember exactly it was a long time ago) was teaching us about blank safety. He demonstrated by taking an empty soda can, saying to us all "this can's outside is harder than your skin, right?" to which we agreed. He then took a blank-firing pistol, put it right up next to the can, and fired. The can had a massive hole in it, was distorted in shape, and had also went flying a short distance. It still sticks with me, frankly one of the best ways to teach the dangers of something is to show it. I also remember he brought up that accident where a Hollywood actor put a blank-firing pistol up to his head and fired and then died, but simply hearing wasn't as impactful as being directly shown.

  • @HarryAyA
    @HarryAyA Před rokem +68

    I do like how weirdly educational the slow mo guys videos are.

    • @shona-sof
      @shona-sof Před rokem +5

      They're filling the space left by Mythbusters.

  • @Goldtiger142003
    @Goldtiger142003 Před rokem +36

    Second balloon was awesome. That blown out fireball was so very visually appealing. Always a good day to see some fun slow-mo action.

  • @ChristopherKlepel
    @ChristopherKlepel Před rokem +5

    Another phenomenal video. It's always good to get a reminder that blanks are no joke.

  • @UnderfundedScientist
    @UnderfundedScientist Před rokem +2

    Seriously this channel is the very best reference art

  • @MRmisteronwzz
    @MRmisteronwzz Před rokem +14

    I've been shooting blanks for a while now. Still liked the video.

  • @landoncheatham7369
    @landoncheatham7369 Před rokem +8

    I love how you guys show safe gun handling techniques in your videos

  • @bpmgaming3351
    @bpmgaming3351 Před rokem +1

    "Pebble-dashed" has got to officially be THE most British thing I've ever heard anyone say now 😂

  • @GraemeGunn
    @GraemeGunn Před 11 měsíci

    It's INCREDIBLE what people will just forget about - like the AIR.

  • @guilhermeatv
    @guilhermeatv Před rokem +16

    "I'm almost as blown away as that ham was" made me laugh hard!! hahahahaha

  • @Gochen86
    @Gochen86 Před rokem +18

    Absolutely incredible footage. And from the angle the pink balloon was filmed, it's almost like the flames of the muzzle flash melted the rubber, leaving the blank fragments to pepper the water. Gav, Dan, you two never disappoint with your content. I can't wait to see what you glorious Slow Mo Guys do next!

  • @Damoinion
    @Damoinion Před rokem +7

    As someone who used to do blackpowder western type shows, I can honestly state that I have had my feet knocked sideways by a shotgun blank at about 2.5 meters whilst running to a new position. (Timing error)
    Edit: One of the things we did at every outdoor display was to show the public just how dangerous our blanks were was to do shots against sheets of newspaper at around 1 meter.
    Even the .38 pistol blanks from a choked blank only barrel, (custom replica weapon with cast in ramps in barrel), would put holes in the paper.
    The result from my 45/70 trapdoor at 3 meters always got a good response!
    If we were doing and indoor display, we would do a blindfold fastdraw shot with a balloon between some volunteers knee
    Always fun and, yes, my blindfold was a partial fake. I could see shadow patterns through it but no detail.
    FYI, the pistol blanks were mainly .38/9mm loaded with 20 to 30 grains 4F black powder and compacted with a 10mm thick, (pre-pressing), polystyrene wad. The wad tended to vaporize at muzzle exit.

  • @lorenzoniccoli99ln
    @lorenzoniccoli99ln Před rokem +5

    I wasn't expecting such an amazing video going by the title!
    The ripples in the water right after the balloon burst open was especially remarkable
    This made me realize the the gunlance in monster hunter is just firing very big blanks

  • @jacobg1796
    @jacobg1796 Před rokem +17

    Stunning that you can see the ripples in the balloon in the water after the ballon has popped. Great video guys!

  • @MiketheMadness
    @MiketheMadness Před rokem +14

    I remember on the first blank fire exercise I did in phase 1, to prove the danger of firing blanks at each other in under 5 metres distance, they put an apple on a log and fired a 5.56 blank at it with a BFA attached. Safe to say the apple disintegrated, and the fresh troops were suitably shocked.

    • @----.__
      @----.__ Před rokem

      Want another swearing joke?

  • @jasonparent4527
    @jasonparent4527 Před rokem

    I love how he handles the gun every time. He's an explosives expert! ROCK ON DUDES !!!!!!!! Keep the spirit alive !!

  • @1a1u0g9t4s2u
    @1a1u0g9t4s2u Před rokem +1

    Very entertaining, glad both of you take this very serious. Thanks for sharing.

  • @man_on_wheelz
    @man_on_wheelz Před rokem +40

    I've always known blanks to be for the most part non-lethal ammunition used in movies and whatnot, but I never really looked into the construction of one and what it actually consisted of, and just how dangerous they actually still are. This video really answered a slew of questions regarding blanks, even the fact that they don't allow the gun to load the next round. I never knew that before.

    • @evolicious
      @evolicious Před rokem +6

      Plenty of people have died from blanks, even famous people. Really stupid the fact that blanks can be just as dangerous as real ammunition is still not drilled into everyone's heads.

    • @TheBntimmins
      @TheBntimmins Před rokem +1

      CSI Las Vegas? had an episode where the blank had a paper wad where the bullet would be. Still killed the guy.

  • @alejandroquesada
    @alejandroquesada Před rokem +8

    Two fun facts about blanks: Jon Erik Hexum (an actor back in the eighties); while filming a movie, he decided to put a blank into one of the chambers of a revolver from the set and played russian roullete with the overwhelming misfortune that it not only fired, but the energy from the explotion of the blank propelled the disk of skull onto which the barreled was pressed, towards and into his brain... killing him. Brandon Lee (actor and son of Bruce Lee), on the other hand, had the core of a previous round, that had been fired prior by using only the primer, stuck in the barrel of the gun that was later fired with a normal blank which propelled the projectile as if it had been a regular bullet.
    (Goodness gracious did l use a lot of commas for that effing paragraph!)

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter Před rokem +2

      Which is why they don't use any live ammo, blank or not, on the John Wick films. Chad Stahelski was Brandon Lee's stunt double for The Crow. All CGI, no unnecessary deaths.

    • @strangeworldsunlimited712
      @strangeworldsunlimited712 Před rokem

      Hexum was on set of his TV show when he messed around with the blank that killed him. His character and a group of women were spies who went from place to place posing as a photographer and his models. Good show, honestly, but quickly canceled after the blank incident.

    • @strangeworldsunlimited712
      @strangeworldsunlimited712 Před rokem

      Oops. Okay. I remembered it wrong. The show was Cover Up, and it starred Jennifer O'Neill and Hexum. SHE was the photographer and HE was the CIA agent posing as the model. He died halfway through the season, so they recast a new model/agent and continued from there, but the ratings dropped off and the show was canceled after the one season.

  • @willbill6449
    @willbill6449 Před rokem +2

    I heckin' love everything about this channel. Bless you guys

  • @RetroJack
    @RetroJack Před rokem +2

    Amazing to see these guys have better gun safety protocols than the entire crew of the Rust movie!

  • @desmo750f1
    @desmo750f1 Před rokem +21

    Top quality work as ever. I like the way you just get on with it rather than spinning it out to fill a time target.

  • @Ballacha
    @Ballacha Před rokem +26

    even without the fragments of brass and unburnt powder, the blank is still very dangerous up close. you don't want to be anywhere near an explosion with supersonic shockwave being focused to a single exit point.

  • @cancer_sucks
    @cancer_sucks Před rokem

    consistently awesome for a decade

  • @nonask_1156
    @nonask_1156 Před rokem

    Thanks boys for another cracking video.

  • @SirPembertonS.Crevalius
    @SirPembertonS.Crevalius Před rokem +50

    Never a blank fired from the slow mo guys until today :P
    Amazing footage as always lads!

  • @Killbayne
    @Killbayne Před rokem +20

    1:04 dan has had so much firearms training, he instinctively flinched down after pulling the trigger, even though there is little to no recoil

    • @First_Grafter
      @First_Grafter Před rokem +1

      I didn't notice that the first time, thanks for pointing it out!

    • @chaparmusic
      @chaparmusic Před rokem

      nice detail, thank you

    • @emilysmith6897
      @emilysmith6897 Před rokem

      I thought you're supposed to flinch less if you're training properly.

    • @Killbayne
      @Killbayne Před rokem

      @@emilysmith6897 flinching is nothing bad, after all its your brain compensating for the muzzle kick of the gun. however too much flinching and too early can make you mess up your shot. even with people like demolitionranch or Brandon Herrera who've put many thousands of rounds down range, you'll still see them flinching when a gun doesn't fire when intended. was interesting to point out that Dan did flinch on that blank shot though.

  • @CRlMZlN
    @CRlMZlN Před rokem +1

    The scene from "In Bruges" (amazing movie, highly recommend) where he blinds that guy with a blank makes a lot more sense now.

  • @Gamert80
    @Gamert80 Před rokem +5

    Every time I watch one of your videos, I am almost immediately sucked into it and time just flies by. Keep up the fun and interesting videos.

  • @R4yj4ck
    @R4yj4ck Před rokem +8

    My mom told me a story once about a theater show where the performer was supposed to mime killing himself with a blank in a gun, but he put the barrel right up against his temple and then actually died because of the gas pressure. Blanks are kinda scary.

    • @amyhull754
      @amyhull754 Před rokem +1

      Was this on a stage or was it Jon-Erik Hexum on the TV set of his show "Cover Up"?

    • @R4yj4ck
      @R4yj4ck Před rokem

      @@amyhull754 I don’t know. I was like eight and the name wasn’t really the part I kept in my memory. I don’t think she even said it.

  • @sapelesteve
    @sapelesteve Před rokem +7

    It's always a good day when Gav & Dan post a new video! BTW, your terminology of "Powdery Schmutz" to describe what the blank spews out is right on! 👍👍💥💥

  • @RandyKing314
    @RandyKing314 Před rokem

    the comedy is strong in this one, thanks guys!

  • @SuperChaoticus
    @SuperChaoticus Před 4 měsíci

    Dan can now add Professional Ham Wrangler to his resume. Nice job!

  • @tielessin
    @tielessin Před rokem +4

    I did not expect this to be one of my favourtie videos of yours ever. Amazing! We need more!

  • @heideknight9122
    @heideknight9122 Před rokem +5

    I knew they were dangerous but I never knew why. Glad to see that the powder still has a great deal of power even without the bullet. Would make a great reference for a safety course on blank usage.

  • @-dystopic-
    @-dystopic- Před rokem +1

    Love your videos boys, thanks for the entertainment!

  • @ryangaasbeek9348
    @ryangaasbeek9348 Před 7 měsíci

    an awesome display of energy is speed and mass

  • @legatenaarifin
    @legatenaarifin Před rokem +16

    Confirmation that Dan is, indeed, firing blanks
    My condolences to Mrs Dan

    • @Chasmodius
      @Chasmodius Před rokem +1

      Some would consider that a desirable feature.

  • @planetrob555
    @planetrob555 Před rokem +8

    I really dig how when you guys are filming at this (or one similar) location you finish up with the setting sun behind you. Very nice.

  • @august1870
    @august1870 Před rokem

    this vid made me so happy lol yall are the best

  • @gordonhaire9206
    @gordonhaire9206 Před 8 měsíci

    I effing love you guys!!!

  • @Curleysound
    @Curleysound Před rokem +13

    I was messing around with these when I was a teenager, and completely tattooed the palm and side of my hand. Most went away after a few months, but one speck stayed in my palm over ten years! It came out in the shower one day. Be careful people!

  • @TrueSlayer150
    @TrueSlayer150 Před rokem +5

    I like how they use a "Target" bag to cover the camera from debris from the "target" lol

  • @Holmesy87
    @Holmesy87 Před rokem +2

    SMG: 3 ft seems like the very edge of the effective range of a blank.
    Alec Baldwin: Someone hold my incompetence.

  • @winterborn107
    @winterborn107 Před rokem

    Prime Dan on this one. Loved it

  • @Piprup
    @Piprup Před rokem +4

    I knew blanks pack some power and danger, but I had no clue it was this much. One of my favorite vids from you guys, love it

    • @rocketman221projects
      @rocketman221projects Před rokem

      Kentucky Ballistics made a video with some larger blanks and they pack a lot more power.
      czcams.com/video/Ppv3iTpncc0/video.html

  • @DigitalImpostor
    @DigitalImpostor Před rokem +3

    You should do this again with balistics gel to show what would happen if you fire one at at a person from various distances and the amount of damage it would cause, to encourage people not to mess about with blanks.

  • @UnderfundedScientist
    @UnderfundedScientist Před rokem +2

    4:14 i know you get this alot but this looked so cg and i love that , it shows how good and real i can make a shot

  • @Hunterboy2407
    @Hunterboy2407 Před rokem +1

    My Pawpaw was a bullet reloader/gunsmith, I was playing with an empty bullet case when I was maybe 6 or 7, and my Pawpaw saw me and worried that it had a live primer, it was common for empty bullet casings to be laying around with live primers. Anyways, he grabbed his .44 mag and brought me outside with an empty soda can and popped it from a few inches away, that thing blew the can wide open and tossed it probably 15-20 feet. And that was with just a primer, no powder at all. Bullets are no joke people, always act as if a gun is loaded and don’t assume that an empty bullet won’t hurt you if it only has a primer

  • @shlubster1
    @shlubster1 Před rokem +5

    This reminds me of a 1000 ways to die episode where a girls father threatens her boyfriend with a gun to intimidate him. Then when the boyfriend freaks out the father says relaxe its only loaded with blanks and shoots himself in the head to demonstrate. Unfortunately for the father he didn't realize how powerful blanks are at close range and he killed himself. Very interesting demonstration guys.

  • @battietech
    @battietech Před rokem +9

    Really informative video.
    I am reminded of the sad fate of Jon-Erik Hexum from the 80s TV show "Cover Up", who died after accidentally shooting himself on the set with a prop gun filled with blanks.
    The way you filmed in slow motion the slice of ham being perforated and the egg exploding, I can only imagine that was what happened to Jon-Erik's skin and his head.

    • @randygreen007
      @randygreen007 Před 8 měsíci

      That happened October 12, 1984 he was actually pronounced deceased later that month. I still watch his tv shows and movies from time to time. RIP Jon-Erik.

    • @Talk-Nerdy-To-Me
      @Talk-Nerdy-To-Me Před 7 měsíci +1

      His show Voyagers was one of my favorite when I was a kid. As I watched this video my first thoughts were about his demise.

  • @Lab_Dad
    @Lab_Dad Před rokem

    The ham shot from behind was awesome. Thanks guys!

  • @keepitsimpleideaguy8676

    Omg listening to you guys react to the slow mo was the best!

  • @WolfoftheWoodsAirsoft
    @WolfoftheWoodsAirsoft Před rokem +3

    Brandon Lee was killed by a foreign body in the barrel of a gun shooting blank rounds. Through medics i've heard of horrible hand/face injuries due to poor muzzle awareness with blank rounds. So good job Slow Mo Guys on showing folks how dangerous blank ammo is. Even with a BFA (Blank Firing Adapter/Attachement) they are still dangerous. So Don't Eff around to Find Out

    • @jeremypnet
      @jeremypnet Před rokem +1

      The foreign body was a bullet. They had previously done a shot from the front of the gun with real rounds without powder. The reason for that was, if you film a revolver with blanks in from the front it’s super obvious that you’ve got blanks in. Unfortunately they left the primers in the rounds and firing the primer was enough to push the bullet into the barrel. Then the blank that came after fired the bullet almost like normal.

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter Před rokem

      @@jeremypnet They don't use any live ammo, blank or not, on the John Wick films. Chad Stahelski was Brandon's stunt double for The Crow. All CGI, no unnecessary deaths.

  • @oliverwarlow
    @oliverwarlow Před rokem +3

    Would be interested to see the difference that a blank in a longer barrel weapon has.
    When we were in training we were all on parade and the CO had a squaddie with an L98A1 come up to the front.
    He threw an apple up in the air and in one of the most impressive shots I've seen the squaddie put a blank through it in midair.
    It looked like absolutely nothing had happened until the CO caught it, inspected it, turned it a bit and blew through it, and half the exit side of the apple just fell away in pieces.
    A really memorable safety lesson.

  • @AntonioZephiel
    @AntonioZephiel Před rokem

    I never thought i would watch 2 guys playing with their ham. :))

  • @FOUR22
    @FOUR22 Před rokem

    I love that you guys have not gone away from doing slowmotion with guns! keep it up!